Sir Irfan Ali

Unit 1: Physical Quantities and measurements

Exercise questions

Q (1.8): what do you understand by zero error of a measuring instrument?

Ans: It is a defect in a measuring device (Vernier Callipers and Screw Gauge) and zero error is caused by
an incorrect position of the zero point. Zero error is necessary in a measuring instrument because it
helps us to check the instrument we are using whether correct or wrong.

Q (1.9): why is the use of zero error necessary in a measuring instrument?

Ans: zero error is necessary in a measuring instrument because it helps us to check the instrument we
are using whether correct or wrong. The zero error helps in correcting the misreading you get from any
instrument.

Q (1.10): what is the stop watch? What is the mechanical stopwatch you have used in the laboratories
in the laboratories?
Ans: stop watch is a device which is used to measure the time interval of an event. Mechanical stop
watches that we have used in the laboratories have least count up to 0.1 seconds.
Q (1.11): Why do we need to measure extremely small interval of times?

Ans: we need to measure extremely small units of time in order to get the measurement more
precise. The second reason is that we need to measure extremely small intervals of time because in
universe many events take place in very short interval of time.e.g; blinking of eye, metabolic process, etc.

Q (1.12): What is meant by significant figures of a measurement?

Ans: In any measurement, the accurately known digits and the first doubtful digits. The numbers you
know rather than guess at. (You know that you're x feet Y inches tall but how many Z 64th of an inch?
You try to measure that but it seems to keep changing). It includes all of the digits that have been
measured exactly, plus one estimated digit.

Q (1.13): How is the precession related to the significant figures in a measured quantity?
Ans: The greater the number of significant figures, the greater the precision. Each significant figure
increases the precision by a factor of ten. For example pi = 3.14 is accurate to 3 significant figures, while
pi = 3.14159 with 6 significant figures is a more accurate representation. A measurement that has a larger
number of significant figures has a greater reproducibility or precision because it has a smaller source of
error in the estimated digit. A value with a greater number of significant figures is not necessarily more
accurate than a measured value with less significant figures , only more precise. For example, a
measured value of 1.5422 m was obtained using a more precise measuring tool, while a value of 1.2 m
was obtained using a less precise measuring tool. If the actual value of the measured object was 1.19 m,
the measurement obtained from the less precise measuring tool would be more accurate.
Sir Irfan Ali

Unit 1: Physical Quantities and measurements

Numerical Problems

1.3: Your hair grows at the rate of 1mm per day. Find their growth rate in nms-1.
Solution: Given Data:
Growth rate of hair = 1mm per day
Find:
Growth rate of hair in nms-1 =?
Solution:
we have
1 mm= 1000 m = 1,000,000 nm
1 day = 24 h= 243600 s = 86400 s
Thus
Growth Rate in nm /s = 1 000 000/86400 11.57 nm /s.

1.6: On closing the jaws of the jaws of the vernier calipers, zero of the vernier scale is on
the right to its main scale such that 4th division of its vernier scale coincides with one of
the main scale division. Find its zero error and zero correction?
Solution:
We have:
Zero Error:

Conceding Division = 4th

Zero error = 4 0.01cm = 0.04 cm
Zero Error = 0.04 cm

Zero Correction:

As it is positive zero error so it will be subtracted from the total measurement.

Total measurement 0.04 = Final measurement.

1.7: A screw gauge has 50 divisions on its circular scale. The pitch of the screw gauge is
0.5mm. What is its least count?
Sol: Given Data:

No of divisions =50
Pitch of screw gauge = 0.5 mm
To Find:
Least Count = L.C =?
Formula:
L.C = Pitch/No. of divisions

Calculation :
As we know that
L.C = Pitch/No. of divisions
Sir Irfan Ali

By putting the values

L.C = 0.5/50 = 0.01mm or 0.001cm.
1.8: Which of the following quantities have three significant figures?

(a) 3.0066 m (b) 0.00309 kg (c) 5.05 10-27kg

(d) 301.0s
Solution:
S No. Quantities No. of Significant Figures
A 3.0066 m 5
B 0.00309 kg 3
C 5.05 X 10-27 kg 3
D 301.0 s 4

9. What are the significant figures In the following measurements.

(a) 1.009m (b)0.00450kg (c) 1.6610-27kg (d)2001s
Sol :
S No. Quantities No. of Significant Figures
A 1.009 m 4
B 0.00450 kg 3
C 1.66 X 10-27 kg 3
D 2001 s 4

10. A chocolate wrapper is 6.7 cm long and 5.4 cm wide. Calculate its area up to
reasonable number of significant figures.
Solution:

Given Data:

Length = 6.7 cm
Width = 5.4 cm
To find:

Area =?
Formula:

Area = Length Width

Calculation:

Area = Length Width

Area = 6.7cm 5.4cm
Area = 36.18
Area = 36.2 cm2
Sir Irfan Ali